National Dems going after 'young guns,' including David Rivera

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has made it a point as of late to attack aspiring lawmakers whom their GOP counterparts at the National Republican Congressional Committee have labeled "young guns." Among them is state Rep. David Rivera, who is in an already-nasty race against Democrat Joe Garcia to replace GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

In its latest release Friday, the DCCC repeated an accusation raised in Garcia's newest attack ad against Rivera regarding a collision on the Palmetto Expressway. The release also brings up a Miami Herald story regarding an accusation made against Rivera in his first campaign in 2002 that resurfaced during the GOP primary this year, before Rivera cruised to victory over two opponents. Rivera has repeatedly denied the accusation.

Democrats have made no secret of the fact that they will try to raise character attacks against Rivera, the powerful state budget chief known for his effective campaigning and fundraising skills. Expect to see our story -- along with the two fliers (here and here) mentioned in it -- again between now and Nov. 2.

And expect Rivera -- and the NRCC, which has called out Garcia for, among other things, taking money in 2008 from beleaguered New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel -- to fight back with ads like this one trying to portray Garcia, whose last job was in the Obama administration, as an out-of-touch Washington insider.